The therapeutic effects of coenzyme Q10 on surgically induced endometriosis in Sprague Dawley rats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of endometriosis rat models. Twenty seven Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; Control Group (n = 7; Endometriosis group), Reference Group (n = 6; Endometriosis + Buserelin acetate, 20 mg/kg), CoQ10 Group-I (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 50 mg/kg) and CoQ10 Group-II (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 100 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed, and the volume and histoarchitecture of endometrial implants were evaluated. The mast cells were determined by Toluidine blue and collagen fiber density was analysed by Masson's Trichrome staining. Tumour necrosis factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in peritoneal fluid and VEGF and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Terminal deoxynucleotidil transferase-mediated dUTP Nick end labelling (TUNEL) was also used for the detection of apoptotic cells. The CoQ10 treatment significantly decreased the volume of endometriotic implants, VEGF, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity and increased TUNEL-positive cells. The findings of the study suggest that CoQ10 can be used in endometriosis treatment by suppressing the endometriotic implants.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder and previous studies have shown that different treatments with antioxidants cause significant regression in the endometriotic implants.What the results of this study add? In this study, CoQ10 reduced intra-abdominal adhesion scores and volume of the endometriotic implants. In addition, CoQ10 treatment affected mast cell, TNF-α, VEGF, and MMP-9.What of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? CoQ10 treatments may be possible to apply, it can contribute to science in terms of a new therapeutic treatment for endometriosis. Further studies are required to evaluate the Coenzyme Q10's effects on pain and subfertility in endometriosis.

The impact of using culture media containing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor on live birth rates in patients with a history of embryonic developmental arrest in previous in vitro fertilization cycles

Objective: To investigate the effect of using culture media containing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on embryological data and reproductive outcomes in patients with early embryonic developmental arrest. Material and Methods: Retrospective case-control study. A total of 39 patients, whose embryos were incubated with culture media containing GM-CSF due to embryonic developmental arrest in two previous in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in-between January 2016 and November 2017 at Hacettepe University IVF Center, were enrolled. Control group was generated among patients with first IVF attempts due to tubal factor in the same time period. All embryos in the control group were incubated with single step culture medium (without GM-CSF). For the control group selection, matching was done 1:2 ratio considering female age, body mass index, number of M-II oocyte retrieved, and number of embryo transferred (n=80). Results: Demographic features and embryological data were comparable between two groups. Number of fertilized oocytes (2-pronuclear) was 3.7±2.0 in GM-CSF group and 3.9±2.5 in the control (p=0.576). Overall, number of embryos transferred (1.3±0.5 vs 1.3±0.5, respectively) and blastocyst transfer rate (67.6% vs 59.2%, respectively; p=0.401) were similar. For the reproductive outcomes, implantation rate (32.3% vs 33.1%, respectively; p=0.937), clinical pregnancy rate (33.3% vs 32.5%, respectively; p=0.770), and live birth rate (25.2% vs 26.2%, respectively; p=0.943) were similar. Conclusion: Using GM-CSF-containing culture media in patients with two previous failed IVF attempts due to embryonic developmental arrest might rectify embryological data and reproductive outcomes. To make solid conclusion further randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Effect of ovarian stimulation on the expression of piRNA pathway proteins.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) play an important role in gametogenesis, fertility and embryonic development. The current study investigated the effect of different doses of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin/human chorionic gonadotrophin (PMSG/hCG) and repeated ovarian stimulation (OS) on the expression of the Mili, Miwi, Mael, Tdrd1, Tdrd9, qnd Mitopld genes, which have crucial roles in the biogenesis and function of piRNAs. Here, we found that after treatment with 7.5 I.U. PMSG/hCG and two repeated rounds of OS, both the mRNA and protein levels of Tdrd9, Tdrd1 and Mael showed the greatest decrease in the ovarian tissue, but the plasma E2 levels showed the strongest increases (p<0.05). However, we found that the Mitopld, Miwi and Mili gene levels were decreased significantly after treatment with 12.5 I.U. PMSG/hCG. Our results suggested that exogenous gonadotropin administration leads to a significant decrease in the expression of the Mili, Miwi, Mael, Tdrd1, Tdrd9 and Mitopld genes, which are critically important in the piRNA pathway, and the changes in the expression levels of Tdrd9, Tdrd1 and Mael may be associated with plasma E2 levels. New comprehensive studies are needed to reduce the potential effects of OS on the piRNA pathway, which silences transposable elements and maintains genome integrity, and to contribute to the safety of OS.

The comparison of the degree of apoptosis in ovaries and fallopian tubes between two different surgical interventions for tubal ligation: A rat model.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the degree of apoptosis in ovaries and tubal epithelium observed secondary to tubal ligation either by Pomeroy's method or bipolar electrocauterization in a rat model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 study groups: control (n=8), Pomeroy (n=8), and the electrocauterization group (n=8). Apoptotic cells were detected on the primary, secondary, tertiary follicles of the ovaries, and on the tubal epithelium using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling. The apoptotic index was calculated for each group by the percentage of the stained cells. RESULTS: The apoptotic index of tubal epithelium was significantly higher in the bipolar electrocauterization group compared with the control and Pomeroy groups (3.1±0.8 vs. 1.4±1.0, p=0.018 and 2.0±1.2, p=0.03, respectively) whereas there was no significant difference between Pomeroy's method and the control group. The apoptotic index of primary follicles was higher in the bipolar electrocauterization group compared with the control and Pomeroy's method groups (3.4±0.5 vs. 1.2±0.4, p<0.001 and 1.8±0.8, p=0.005, respectively), but there was no significant difference between Pomeroy's method and the control group. The apoptotic index of secondary and tertiary follicles was similar for each group. CONCLUSION: Pomeroy's technique, as a permanent contraception method, is associated with lower apoptotic index on ovary and fallopian tube when compared with bipolar electrocauterization.

Mandatory single embryo transfer policy dramatically decreases multiple pregnancy rates.

AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a mandatory single embryo transfer (SET) policy on pregnancy rates and multiple pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-eight patients (154 cycles) underwent ICSI before the Turkish Ministry of Health's legislation, 55 patients (69 cycles) underwent ICSI after the legislation (day-3 embryo transfers only) and 35 patients (39 cycles) who underwent ICSI after the legislation (day-5 embryo transfers only). RESULTS: Groups were comparable regarding the women's mean age and body mass index. The number of embryos transferred (2.7 ± 0.5 vs 1.0 ± 0.0 vs 1.0 ± 0.0) was significantly higher in group I, compared to group II and group III. Clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer (40.8% vs 15.1% vs 36.1%) and live birth rate (37.7% vs 13.2% vs 30.6%) were significantly lower in group II when compared to group I and group III. Multiple pregnancy rates (39.6% vs 0.0%, vs 0.0%) were significantly higher in group I when compared to group II and III. Implantation rates were significantly higher in group III when compared to group I and group II. Miscarriage rates were comparable among the groups. CONCLUSION: The mandatory SET policy caused a dramatic decrease of multiple pregnancy rates. Mandatory SET with only day-3 embryo transfers decreased the pregnancy rates but this detrimental effect was not seen in cycles with day-5 embryo transfers.